Shays says he's not finished with politics

Updated 10:31 pm, Monday, August 27, 2012

Christopher Shays puts his arm around wife Betsi while giving his concession speech in the Republican Senate primary at Shays headquarters in Stratford, Conn. on Tuesday, August 14, 2012. Shays lost to Linda McMahon who will be the Republican candidate for US Senate to face Democrat Chris Murphy in November. less

Christopher Shays puts his arm around wife Betsi while giving his concession speech in the Republican Senate primary at Shays headquarters in Stratford, Conn. on Tuesday, August 14, 2012. Shays lost to Linda ... more

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. -- Christopher Shays says it's premature for people to be writing his political obituary.

In his first extended interview since suffering the worst loss of his career to Linda McMahon in the Republican Senate primary on Aug. 14, a stoic Shays said Monday his best days of public service are not behind him.

"I have a lot to look forward to," Shays told Hearst Connecticut Newspapers. "Betsi and I are not going to walk to the finish line."

At the hotel restaurant where the Connecticut delegation is staying, he chatted while a radio played Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" in the background.

Shays said it's within the realm of possibility he could run for office again if the right opportunity presented itself.

What about the governor's race in 2014?

"I rule nothing out," Shays said.

Shays said he doesn't expect to land on K Street, not after he pushed unsuccessfully for a two-year moratorium on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists.

"I can't imagine I would," Shays said, though he left the door slightly ajar. "I'd love to be able to have a nice financial future. I'd love to be able to contribute to the community."

This week could be viewed as a prime networking opportunity for Shays, who served in the House from 1987 until his 2008 ouster.

He still keeps a home in St. Michaels, Md., and a house boat in Washington, D.C., as well as a Bridgeport condominium he bought when he moved back to Connecticut to run for Senate. He left the state to serve as co-chairman of the Wartime Contracting Commission, which was created by Congress to look into military procurement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I've had people say, `Let's sit down and talk,' " Shays said. "I have a lot of friends."

Shays mustered 26 percent against the wrestling mogul McMahon in a primary in which he was badly outspent.

"I did not allow myself to protect myself from the hurt of losing," Shays said. "But that's really the only way you should run."

Though he spent much of the campaign trying to plant seeds of doubt about the electability of McMahon, the wrestling impresario who won a U.S. Senate primary two years ago, but lost the general election, Shays gave his rival her due.